Structural shape for use in frame construction

Abstract

A structural section for use in frame construction where the section includes a horizontal segment and a pair of spaced apart legs. Each leg has a first end portion attached to the horizontal segment, a second end portion opposite the horizontal segment, and a flange that extends inward from the second end portion toward the centerline of the structural section. Each leg further includes a longitudinal surface located between the first end portion and the second end portion. The longitudinal surface is positioned inboard of the flange so that the distance between opposed flanges that extend along each leg of the structural section is greater than the distance between opposed longitudinal surfaces that extend along each leg of the structural section.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A structural section comprising: 
       a) a first leg and a second leg spaced apart from said first leg and connected thereto by a horizontal segment, said first leg and said second leg each comprising;  
       i) a first end portion attached to said horizontal segment;  
       ii) a second end portion opposite said first end portion, said second end portion including an inboard extending flange in combination with a stiffener member attached along one edge thereof, said stiffener member extending downward at an oblique angle from said inboard extending flange, said stiffener member inboard from said second end portion; and  
       iii) a longitudinal clamping surface extending along said first leg and a longitudinal clamping surface extending along said second leg between said first end portion and said second end portion, each said longitudinal clamping surface positioned inboard of said stiffener member so that a distance (D 2 ) between said longitudinal clamping surfaces is less than a distance (D 3 ) between said stiffener members.  
     
     
       2. The invention recited in  claim 1  wherein each said stiffener member is slanted toward said longitudinal clamping surface. 
     
     
       3. The invention recited in  claim 1  wherein each said stiffener member is slanted away from said longitudinal clamping surface. 
     
     
       4. The invention recited in  claim 1  wherein said stiffener member is a curvilinear stiffener member extending downward from said flange edge, said curvilinear stiffener member including a planar leg parallel to and spaced apart from said flange to provide a gap therebetween. 
     
     
       5. The invention recited in  claim 1  wherein: 
       a) said distance (D 2 ) between the longitudinal clamping surface of said first leg and the longitudinal clamping surface of said second leg is predetermined so that said longitudinal surfaces engage a strut inserted therebetween, and  
       b) said stiffener member is positioned to provide a gap between said strut and said stiffener member.  
     
     
       6. The invention recited in  claim 5  wherein each said longitudinal clamping surface is fastened to said strut inserted between said first leg and said second leg, each said longitudinal clamping surface being positioned to locate fasteners inboard of said first leg and inboard of said second leg. 
     
     
       7. The invention recited in  claim 1  wherein said first leg and said second leg are longer than said horizontal segment. 
     
     
       8. A roof truss constructed with the structural section of  claim 1 , wherein said roof truss comprises: 
       a) a top chord member comprising said structural section;  
       b) a bottom chord member comprising said structural section; and  
       c) a plurality of truss web members extending between said top chord member and said bottom chord member, each said truss web member having an outside dimension equal to said distance (D 2 ).  
     
     
       9. The roof truss recited in  claim 8  including: 
       a) a first gap extending between said oblique stiffener member of said first leg and each truss web member extending between said top chord and said bottom chord; and  
       b) a second gap extending between said oblique stiffener member of said second leg and each truss web member extending between said top chord and said bottom chord.  
     
     
       10. The roof truss recited in  claim 9  wherein each said longitudinal clamping surface is fastened to each truss web inserted therebetween. 
     
     
       11. A roof truss constructed with the structural section of  claim 4 , wherein said roof truss comprises: 
       a) a top chord member comprising said structural section;  
       b) a bottom chord member comprising said structural section; and  
       c) a plurality of truss web members extending between said top chord member and said bottom chord member, each said truss web member having an outside dimension equal to said distance (D 2 ).  
     
     
       12. The roof truss recited in  claim 11  including: 
       a) a first gap extending between said curvilinear stiffener member of said first leg and each truss web member extending between said top chord and said bottom chord; and  
       b) a second gap extending between said curvilinear stiffener member of said second leg and each truss web member extending between said top chord and said bottom chord.  
     
     
       13. The roof truss recited in  claim 12  wherein each said longitudinal clamping surface is fastened to each truss web inserted therebetween. 
     
     
       14. A floor truss including at least one structural section according to  claim 1  as a chord member of the floor truss. 
     
     
       15. A floor truss including at least one structural section according to  claim 4  as a chord member of the floor truss. 
     
     
       16. A wall assembly including the structural section according to  claim 1  as a track member or a stud member. 
     
     
       17. A wall assembly including the structural section according to  claim 4  as a track member or a stud member. 
     
     
       18. A header assembly including at least one structural section according to  claim 1  as a chord member. 
     
     
       19. A header assembly including at least one structural section according to  claim 4  as a chord member. 
     
     
       20. The header assembly according to  claim 18  wherein said structural section provides a top chord and bottom chord in a header over a window opening. 
     
     
       21. The header assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said structural section provides a top chord and bottom chord in a header over a window opening. 
     
     
       22. In a roof truss including a top roof truss chord, a bottom roof truss chord, and a plurality of web members extending between the top and bottom roof truss chords, an improved roof truss wherein said top roof truss chord and said bottom roof truss chord each comprise: 
       a) a first vertical leg spaced apart from a second vertical leg and connected thereto by a horizontal member, each vertical leg including;  
       i) a first end portion attached to said horizontal member and a second end portion opposite said first end portion;  
       ii) a clamping surface parallel to and positioned inboard of said vertical leg whereby said clamping surface of said first vertical leg is spaced apart from said clamping surface of said second vertical leg a distance (D 2 ) so that the spaced apart clamping surfaces engage said plurality of web members extending between said top roof truss chord and said bottom roof truss chord;  
       iii) a flange attached to and extending inboard from said second end portion of said vertical leg, said flange including a stiffener extending at an oblique angle from said flange whereby said stiffener of said first vertical leg is spaced apart from said stiffener of said second vertical leg a distance (D 3 ) greater than distance (D 2 ) so that each said stiffener is positioned proximate said plurality of web members to provided a gap between said stiffener and each web member.  
     
     
       23. The invention recited in  claim 22  wherein said distance (D 3 ) is greater than the length of said vertical leg. 
     
     
       24. The invention recited in  claim 22  wherein each said oblique angled stiffener is slanted toward said clamping surface. 
     
     
       25. The invention recited in  claim 22  wherein each said oblique angled stiffener is slanted away from said clamping surface. 
     
     
       26. The invention recited in  claim 22  wherein said stiffener member is curvilinear, each curvilinear stiffener including a planar leg parallel to and spaced apart from said flange to provide a gap between said planar leg and said flange. 
     
     
       27. The invention recited in  claim 22  wherein each web member is fastened to said spaced apart clamping surfaces. 
     
     
       28. In a structural section comprising a first leg, and a second leg spaced apart from said first leg and attached thereto by a horizontal segment, said first leg and said second leg each including a first end portion attached to said horizontal segment, a second end portion opposite said first end portion, and a longitudinal clamping surface located between said first end portion and said second end portion, said longitudinal clamping surface positioned inboard of said second end portion, the improvement comprising: 
       flanges extending inward from said second end portions in combination with stiffeners attached along an edge of said flanges, said stiffeners extending downward at an oblique angle from said flanges, said stiffeners spaced apart a distance (D 3 ) greater than a distance (D 2 ) between said clamping surfaces.  
     
     
       29. The invention recited in  claim 28  wherein each said oblique angled stiffener is slanted toward said clamping surface. 
     
     
       30. The invention recited in  claim 28  wherein each said oblique angled stiffener is slanted away from said clamping surface. 
     
     
       31. The invention recited in  claim 28  wherein said stiffener member is curvilinear, each curvilinear stiffener including a planar leg parallel to and spaced apart from said flange to provide a gap between said planar leg and said flange. 
     
     
       32. The invention recited in  claim 28  wherein each web member is fastened to said spaced apart clamping surfaces.